NY Senate passes Bill that would make annoying a cop a felony

From:  Prison Planet 

Bill would basically allow police to arrest based on their own subjective impulses

Adan Salazar

Prison Planet.com

June 6, 2013

Lawmakers in New York may have jumped the shark with their latest police protection bill.

New York Senate Bill 2402 would effectively make it a class E felony to “annoy” so-called peace officers.

The bill, in part, reads:

A PERSON IS GUILTY OF AGGRAVATED HARASSMENT OF A POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER WHEN, WITH THE INTENT TO HARASS, ANNOY, THREATEN OR ALARM A PERSON WHOM HE OR SHE KNOWS OR REASONABLY SHOULD KNOW TO BE A POLICE OFFICER OR PEACE OFFICER ENGAGED IN THE COURSE OF PERFORMING HIS OR HER OFFICIAL DUTIES, HE OR SHE STRIKES, SHOVES, KICKS OR OTHERWISE SUBJECTS SUCH PERSON TO PHYSICAL CONTACT.

According to WIVB, Sen. Joe Griffo, one of the original sponsors of the bill, defended it and the all-important police state arguing, “Police officers who risk their lives every day in our cities and on our highways deserve every possible protection, and those who treat them with disrespect, harass them and create situations that can lead to injuries deserve to pay a price for their actions.”

Besides the otherwise lame attempt to justify a bill that in essence gives police free rein, there is no actual explanation given for creating such a bill.

If signed into law, offenders would be subjected to the same penalties as other class E felonies like “placing a false bomb or hazardous substance” in a public place, and “riot in the first degree.” This is the lowest felony charge in New York, but can still carry a penalty of up to 4 years imprisonment, depending on the judge’s decision.  MORE